Jennifer Lopez is undoubtedly one of the most multi-talented stars in Hollywood. Whether she’s dazzling us with her chart-topping music, showcasing her acting chops in blockbuster films, or lighting up the stage with her dance moves, Lopez has done it all. But in 2019, she took on a new challenge that pushed her well outside her comfort zone—and it involved a skill she had never tried before: pole dancing.

The challenge came during the preparation for her role in Hustlers, where Lopez plays a skilled stripper who conspires with fellow dancers to rob Wall Street bankers. To fully embody her character, Lopez had to master the art of pole dancing—a discipline that, as she revealed during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, was much harder than she anticipated.

“I mean, I have bruises everywhere, it’s so hard,” Lopez admitted, laughing through the pain. “I have a lot of respect for people who do the pole,” she added, acknowledging the intense physical demands of the sport. In order to prepare for the role, Lopez set up a portable pole at her home and enlisted the help of a personal instructor from Cirque du Soleil, who came to teach her the ropes. It wasn’t easy, but Lopez was determined to learn.

Though the physical strain was immense, the real challenge came when Lopez had to perform the routine on set in front of a large crowd. During an interview on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Lopez opened up about how scary it was to perform pole dancing for the first time in front of 300 extras. “At first, I was terrified,” she said. “It felt like such a big fear for me. But by the end of it, I felt like I had been doing it for years.”

Lopez went on to say that the experience left her with a newfound sense of empowerment. “There was a power to it,” she reflected. What began as a daunting and difficult task turned into something transformative for the star, and she learned far more than just how to pole dance. The experience pushed her to confront her fears, grow in new ways, and discover an unexpected source of strength.

Jennifer Lopez’s journey into pole dancing for Hustlers serves as a reminder that even the most experienced and successful stars face challenges. But it also shows us that, with determination and a willingness to learn, even the most daunting fears can be overcome. Whether it’s a new skill or an unfamiliar experience, Lopez proves that there’s always room to grow—and that’s what makes her such a powerful and inspiring figure in the entertainment world.